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The following document has been contributed by the authors, Dominic Murray, Alan Smith and Ursula Birthistle , with the permission
of the Irish Peace Institute Research Centre, University of Limerick. The views expressed in this chapter do not necessarily reflect the views of the members of the CAIN Project. The CAIN Project would welcome other material which meets our guidelines for contributions.

This chapter is copyright Dominic Murray, Alan Smith and Ursula Birthistle 1997 and is included
on the CAIN site by permission of the authors and the publisher. You may not edit, adapt,
or redistribute changed versions of this for other than your personal use
without the express written permission of the author or the publisher, Irish Peace Institute
Research Centre. Redistribution for commercial purposes is not permitted.

The Irish Peace Institute Research Centre is based in the University
of Limerick. The Centre emphasises the need for continuing research
into ways and means of finding a solution to the conflict in Ireland
and the attainment of peace. The research programme of the Centre
focuses on a range of strategies (social, cultural, economic,
educational) which might be employed to foster peace. Projects
are ongoing within each of these areas.

This publication is the most recent in a research programme being
carried out by the Irish Peace Institute Research Centre.

There is a general acceptance that education is likely to be the
most powerful instrument in increasing mutual understanding and
perhaps increased co-operation within and between the two parts
of Ireland. While there are specific programmes and strategies
designed to achieve these purposes in both jurisdictions, it is
still remarkable that so little mutual awareness exists about
the educational systems in the north and south of the island.
There is some sharing of knowledge between Northern Ireland and
the Republic of Ireland, but this has tended to occur most often
at the higher levels of the system e.g. the Departments of Education,
curriculum councils etc. But at teacher and pupil level there
remains little knowledge of the 'other system'. The European Trade
Union Committee for Education and the European Commission have
called for the promotion of co-operation and sharing of information
among all countries of the European Union at an educational level.
Similar calls have been made by the OECD and UNESCO. It would
seem that nowhere is such a sharing process more important than
between the north and south of Ireland.

The purpose of this report therefore is threefold. In the first
place an attempt is made to provide comprehensive descriptions
of the structure and practice of education in Northern Ireland
and the Republic of Ireland. Secondly, an account is given of
current contact and cooperation existing between the two. Thirdly,
tentative recommendations are proffered with regard to areas where
further research would be useful and strategies which may be introduced
in order to facilitate increased mutual understanding.

The Education Bill Republic of Ireland (1997) was published when
this project was at an advanced stage. Where possible its implications
are referred to in the main body of this report and a synopsis
is also included as appendix one.

The research was funded by The Irish Times Limited and commenced
in Spring 1995.